Piet Oudolf at the Serpentine Pavilion in London – simple but stunning!

I can’t believe I’ve taken so long to get to see this Pavilion. Situated right next to the Serpentine Gallery in Hyde Park is a large long oblong black building designed by the Swiss architect, Peter Zumthor.

As you enter the Pavilion, you hear the slightly dislocated hum of people sitting at tables, soaking up the gorgeous atmosphere created by the juxtaposition of Piet Oudolf’s planting against this matt black structure.

Why such the fuss? Well, I think it’s rare to see such relaxed and informal planting right in the heart of a city like London.

And the carefully chosen palette of plants, such as the kinky white spires of Actaea ramosa ‘James Compton’ (above centre), are highlighted to perfection in this darkest of surrounds. Although visitors are sitting all around the Pavilion, the planting takes centre stage, and you can serenely spend half an hour, gently sipping a cup of coffee, contemplating the plants, nature and anything else that wanders into your mind. During one of the hottest days we’ve had this summer, this strange and cool retreat was definitely an oasis of calm and beauty. The installation continues until Sunday October 16th. To be transported, take a tube to Hyde Park Corner, a joyful 5 minute ride in a No.9 old Routemaster bus along Kensington Road and a 10 minute walk to the gallery. Most certainly worth the trip.

p.s.

If you have mobility issues, Liberty Drives operate an amazing bookable buggy service throughout Hyde Park on Tuesdays to Fridays from May until October. They will meet you at one of eight entries to the park, drop you off where you want to go and return to collect you later. We just happened to bump into Freda and her buggy, there are 6 in total in the park, and she scooped us up and dropped us off at Speakers Corner. A wonderful bonus to the already very enjoyable afternoon.

3 Responses

How funny – I was there just yesterday, but it was quite gloomy and overcast so I had the place to myself. I absolutely loved it, though later on at a party that evening someone was telling me that she had several friends who had loved all previous pavilions but hated this one, and had told her not to bother. I told her to hurry up in order to catch it whilst she can. Beautiful photographs.

I only saw this installations (it feels odd to call it garden) in pictures. I like Oudolf a lot, I might need some more time to comprehend this one here. Plantings are stunning, as usual but I don’t actually get ‘the message’. Probably your living contemplation has been more powerful. Nice post. 😉

[…] by a refreshing nonalcoholic tipple. This unexpected space reminded me of my visit last summer to Peter Zumthor’s Pavillion at the Serpentine Gallery, where Londoners were treated to Piet Oudolf’s glorious informal planting after entering […]